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Excellent

#58 of 1,035 schools in AR

Top 6% in state

Mena Middle School

Middle School · MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT

320 R MENA ST, Mena, AR 71953

Enrollment

365

Student-Teacher

13:1

Score

8.4

Grades

6th – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Mena

#1 of 6

public schools

Arkansas middle schools

#16 of 205

In district

#1 of 4

MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Academic growth

8.7 / 10

Exceptional

About Mena Middle School

Mena Middle School is a public middle school in Mena, AR, part of the MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT. The school serves approximately 365 students in grades 6th – 8th with a student-teacher ratio of 13:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.4/10, placing it in the 94.5th percentile among AR schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 51% proficiency in math and 47% in reading/language arts. The school scores particularly well in student growth (8.7/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $52,355, where 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a remote town setting.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.7Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-0.65 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendStable
Academics8.7Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency53%
Reading/ELA Proficiency49%
Overall Proficiency51%
Expected (poverty-adj.)40%
vs. Expected+10.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile81th
Resources & Environment7.7Very Good25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,976

Mena Middle School — Students at Mena Middle School score 51% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 40%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

64.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores AR EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 50.7%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 47.3%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from AR state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2021*
Math
47%
ELA
41%
2022
Math
53%
ELA
49%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.7/10.

How Mena Middle School Compares

See how Mena Middle School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.4/10
95th percentile in AR
Academic
8.7/10
8.7/10
Growth
8.7/10
Above average
Environment
7.7/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
65%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
28 teachers

Location

320 R MENA ST, Mena, AR 71953

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Mena Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. SMITHVILLE MS (rated 8.7/10, 25.3 miles away, in nearby Smithville), with a very similar rating. Additionally, WALDRON MIDDLE SCHOOL (rated 4.9/10, 23.1 miles away, in nearby Waldron), a more accessible option. For more schools in Mena, see our Mena schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 33.1 mi
School Distance Rating
HOLLY HARSHMAN ELEM. SCHOOL Mena 0.2 mi 6.4
MENA HIGH SCHOOL Mena 0.2 mi 7.6
POLK COUNTY VIRTUAL ACADEMY Mena 0.2 mi
LOUISE DURHAM ELEM. SCHOOL Mena 1.7 mi 5.4
ACORN HIGH SCHOOL Mena 4.0 mi 5.2
ACORN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Mena 4.1 mi 5.5
COSSATOT RIVER PRIMARY SCHOOL Vandervoort 15.9 mi 6.3
COSSATOT RIVER HIGH SCHOOL Cove 16.6 mi 6.4
COSSATOT RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Wickes 20.6 mi 8.2
WALDRON HIGH SCHOOL Waldron 22.9 mi 6.2
WALDRON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Waldron 23.1 mi 4.4
ADVENTURE ONLINE ACADEMY Waldron 23.0 mi 6.7
WALDRON MIDDLE SCHOOL Waldron 23.1 mi 4.9
UMPIRE K-12 SCHOOL Umpire 23.0 mi 8.6
ARKANSAS CONSOLIDATED HIGH SCHOOL-MANSFIELD Mansfield 29.8 mi 7.2
SMITHVILLE HS Smithville 25.3 mi 5.3
SMITHVILLE MS Smithville 25.3 mi 8.7
SMITHVILLE ES Smithville 25.4 mi 8.4
ODEN SCHOOLS Oden 25.2 mi 5.4
MANSFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Mansfield 33.1 mi 5.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 71953 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$52,355

Median Home Value

$144,200

Median Rent

$743/mo

Population

13,412

College Educated

19.5%

Homeownership

84.8%

Poverty Rate

15.2%

Median Age

47.8

Community Profile

The community surrounding Mena Middle School has a median household income of $52,355. It is a community where 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $144,200, with a median rent of $743/month. The area has a poverty rate of 15.2%. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
ESTEM EAST VILLAGE JUNIOR HIGH PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL Little Rock, AR 8.4
HIGHLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL Hardy, AR 8.4
LAMAR MIDDLE SCHOOL Lamar, AR 8.4
BOONEVILLE JR HIGH SCHOOL Booneville, AR 8.3
HOPE ACADEMY OF PUBLIC SERVICE Hope, AR 8.5
CORNING MIDDLE SCHOOL Corning, AR 8.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Mena Middle School

What grades does Mena Middle School serve?

Mena Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Mena Middle School?

Mena Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 365 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Mena Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at Mena Middle School is 13:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Mena Middle School rank in AR?

Mena Middle School is ranked #58 out of 1,035 schools in AR.

What is Mena Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Mena Middle School has a composite rating of 8.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Mena Middle School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Mena Middle School has 50.7% math proficiency and 47.3% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Mena Middle School a charter school?

No, Mena Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Mena Middle School a Title I school?

No, Mena Middle School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Mena Middle School?

64.7% of students at Mena Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
34 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
46 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (2,965/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Mena). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
365
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
Teachers (FTE)
28
Free/Reduced Lunch
64.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Town
County
Polk County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT
District Enrollment
1,697
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,089
District Rank
#1 of 4

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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